Centrifugal machine



June 23, 1953 a. w. TOMPKIN 2,642,997

Y CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE Filed Feb. 14, 1946 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 w M%M 3 June 23, 1953 a.- w TQMPKIN 2,642,997

I CENTRIFUGAL MAcHiNE Filed Feb. 14, 1946' 10 Sheets Sheet 2 June 23; 1953' s; w. TOMPKIN 2,642,997

CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE Filed Feb. 14, 1946 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 G'eoge 1 0122231611.

E249 Q Zz-JZM June 23, 1953 c; w. fpMPKm 2,642,997

CENTRIFUQAL MACHINE Filed Feb. 14, 1946 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 apoge-wf'ral wz J 23} 1953 6-. w TOMPKIN 2,642,997

ciszsznIFuGAL. momma Filed Feb. 14-. 1946 woe/whom" Gaol e M? 1 1953 I a. w. TOMPKI'N 2,642,997

' CENTR'IFUGAL MACHINE f Filed Feb. 14. 1946 q 1O She et sheet 10 Patented June 23, 1953 m'rso STATES PATENT OFFICE CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE George W. Tompkin, Lahaina, Territory of Hawaii Application February 14, 1946, Serial No. 647,582

12 Claims.

My invention relates to centrifugal machines and particularly to such as are used in the production of sugar wherein a foraminous basket is employed for separating the liquid from the sugar content of massecuite or the like by rotating the basket and its contained charge of massecuite to thereby centrifugally extract the liquid and leave the sugar deposited in an annular band or layer on the circumferential wall of the basket, the sugar being thereafter freed from the screened wall of the basket through the operation of a discharger adapted to cut or plow the sugar loose from the screen.

Realizing the necessity of providing a simple centrifugal control system having features designed to overcome well known difficulties inherent in available systems, I have provided a control system which is applicable to any type of centrifugal and is completely independent of the drive thereof.

Where automatic mechanical discharging is used, it is well known that systems heretofore devised for controlling the operations of the centrifugal machine have been designed around some particular means of driving the centrifugal and, in fact, form a part of the machine. They are, therefore, specifically limited in application. The purpose of this invention is to eliminate this dificulty and provide a means which is universally applicable to all types of centrifugal machines regardless of motive power or other specific characteristics.

The invention is comprised of several primary units consisting of a motorized discharger having certain unique features, a governor which integrates the actions of filling, drying and discharging and all operations pertaining thereto, the housing for several small units, such as a reversing switch and cycle timer, and a unit to control the charge to the basket.

These units supply the necessary impulses for complete control of a centrifugal machine. Although the application of these impulses is shown as applied to a machine driven by water power, it will be readily appreciated that the invention is equally applicable to ,an' electric driven machine, a machine driven through a fluid or torque controlled coupling and to a belt driven machine.

The discharger is a small compact unit embodying features designed to eliminate certain weaknesses inherent in previous designs. It is driven by a motor through small electrical operated clutches which engage and disengage under .the control of snap action limit switches. It

may be operated independently of the remainder of the control for testing or for manual operation.

Since sturdiness and trouble free operation is a prime necessity in a discharger of this type and compactness is likewise an important consideration, one of the object of this invention is to provide the necessary means for accomplishing the movements of the discharger plow which are positive in action and have great mechanical strength.

Another primary object of the invention is to provide a discharger which requires no manual intervention during the sequence of its operations necessary to the discharge of sugar from the centrifugal basket of the machine and which is so constructed and controlled that it may be safely operated by a motor, instead of manual labor, without danger of damaging the machine I by accidentally fouling the screen during the discharging operation.

Another important object of the invention is to provide means in synchronized relation to the basket of the centrifugal machine for governing the operation of the discharger.

A principal feature of the invention consists in providing means responsive to speed of the basket of the centrifugal machine for causing the discharger mechanism of the apparatus to initiate its cycle of operation.

Another primary feature of the invention consists in providing the centrifugal machine with mechanism responsive to a predetermined speed of the basket for admitting to the basket the material that is to be centrifugally separated, and in combining therewith means responsive to the charge of material within the basket for causing admission of the material to the basket to be terminated when the basket has been charged to the desired extent. 7

A further primary feature of the invention, generally stated, consists in embodying in the centrifugal machine a master timer, a motorized discharger and a governor whose movement is in synchronism with that of the centrifugal basket of the machine, these three devices being electrically connected and interlocked in such a manner that the entire cycle of the machine is performed automatically and with a certainty of control insuring efficiency and economy of operation.

There are other features of invention residing in particular relations of parts and in advantageous forms of construction, all as will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, the scope whereof is pointed out in the claims,

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly diagrammatic, of a centrifugal machine embodying my invention having a basket, a motorized discharger, a governor and a timer, showing the preferred relation of these devices to each other and to the means for charging the basket with the material that is to be centrifugally' separated. V

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of the motorized discharger shown in Figure 1, together with the shaft of the centrifugal basket and portions of the basket and its encircling curb.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the discharger and its operating mechanism.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 4 4 of Figure 3, portions of the mechanism being broken away.

Figure 5v is a view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, showing the discharger in relation to the curb andbasket of the centrifu gal machine, the shaft of the discharger being rotated somewhat from the position shown in Figure 3for the sake of clearness.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view on line 6 -6 of Figure 5, the plow device of the discharger being omitted.

Figure 7 is a sectional view on line 'l-'I of Figure 3, a portion of the plow of the discharger being omitted.

Figure 8 is an enlarged view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, of a portion of the discharger mechanism.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view showing the relation of the plow of the discharger to the basket of the centrifugal machine, and illustrating diagrammatically the cycle of movement of the plow.

Figure 10 is a detail perspective view of the split collar which takes the. thrust of the discharger shaft.

Figure 11 is a horizontal section on line ll-=ll of Figure 8.

Figure 12 is an elevational view of a modified construction wherein two motors are employed for driving the discharger.

Figure 13 is a vertical section on line [3 113 of Figure 1, showing the governor and the switches controlled thereby,'together with the means for driving the governor in synchronism with the basket of the machine.

Figure 14 is a horizontal sectional view on line l4 -l4 of Figure 13 showing the switch devices which are responsiveto movement of the governor shaft.

Figure 15 is a vertical sectional view on line l5l5 of Figure, 13.

Figure 16 is a View, partly in plan and partly in section, showing. the mechanism for controlling the closing operation of the filling gateand its relation to the curb and basket of the ma chine.

Figure 17 is a detail vertical section on line H+=IT of Figure 16.

Figure 18 is a detail sectional view on line 18-48 of Figure 1'7.

Figure 19 is a plan view of the timer for controlling the cycle of the apparatus.

Figure 20 is a diagrammatic view of the timer, its disks being shown in off position.

Figure 21 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, on line 2I-'-'-2| of Figure 1, il-=.

lustrating the mechanism for filling the centrifu gal basket.

Figure 22 is a detail plan view of the discharger switch mechanism.

Figure 23 is a perspective view showing the manner of mounting the snap action switches shown in Figure 22 and the slide by which they are controlled.

Figure 24 is a detail perspective view illustrating the relationship of the three snap action switches shown in Figure 2 when actuated by their operating slide.

Figure 25 is a diagrammatic plan view of a single pole single throw snap action switch mechanism employed in controlling the action of the discharger.

Figure 26 is a diagrammatic plan view of a single pole double throw snap action switch mechanism also employed in controlling the discharger.

Figure 27 is a fragmentary detail sectional view on line 21-21 of Figure 12.

Figure 28 is a wiring diagram of the mechanism showing the control off and the main power circuit on, with the machine at rest.

In the drawings, l indicates the foraminous basket or screen of a centrifugal machine used in the production of sugar and 2 is the vertical shaft upon which it is mounted and by which it is rotated, while 3 is the curb or casing within which the basket; is housed. These parts of a centrifugal machine, as well as suitable brake mechanism (not shown) for controlling the rotatable basket, are familiar features of centrifugal machines employed in the sugar making art and may be of any usual or preferred construction. The means for applying power to the centrifugal machine to drive the basket, apply and release the brakes and control the gate by which a charge of material is admitted to the basket may be such as now commonly employed or as may be suitable for the purpose, as, for ex aple, motor mechanism driven hydraulically or electrically, the centrifugal machine illustrated in the accompanying drawings being electrically driven and having its basket driven by electric motor la.

Associated with the centrifugal basket I are the discharger 4, a governor 5 and a timer 6, all of which are electrically interlocked. The discharger and the governor are preferably mount-- ed on the curb 3, but it will usually be found more convenient not to mount the timer thereon. There are certain other devices which also are preferably mounted upon the curb 3, as will hereinafter appear.

The discharger or unloader mechanism 4 differs greatly from the dischargers heretofore in use, its construction enabling it to be driven by a motor while permitting its parts so to act in relation to each other that the device may reliably and safely perform by itself the proper sequence of operations necessary to the discharging of the centrifugal basket. The discharger may be conveniently. mounted on the top of the curb 3 by means of a base plate 1 to which is rigidly secured an upwardly extending cylindrical sleeve 8 supporting the discharger and within which the discharger is rotatable.

The discharger I is formed with a shaft 9 to the lower end of which is rigidly attached a plow [0 for discharging the sugar material by cutting it away from the screen wall of the basket I. The plow may be of any suitable or well known form. The discharger shaft 9 is provided with a vertically extending series of interrupted or seetional screw threads H which (see Fig.6) may conveniently be formed'upon a bar snugly fitting.

into a longitudinally extending recess of the shaft 9 and securely positioned therein'by means of screws. Encircling the shaft 9 is a sleeve or bushing :12, preferably of bronze, which is provided on its interior With a slot or keyway l3 for receiving the column of threads H, the shaft 9 thus being enabled to slide up and down within the bushing l2 but being caused to turn therewith when the bushing rotates. The sleeve or bushing it fits closely within a surrounding cylindrical sleeve i l and is firmly secured thereto by means of screws lb. The sleeve M extends through and is rotatable within the stationary sleeve 8 which is secured to the top of the curb 3 of the centrifugal machine, said sleeve It being formed at its upper end with a downwardly facing shoulder it between which and the upper end of the supporting sleeve 3 a thrust ring Il may be advantageously interposed, the weight of the discharger being thereby transmitted to the sleeve 8.

Encircling the discharger shaft 9 and cooperating with the series of interrupted threads ll thereof to raise and lower said shaft is a nut member it to the upper end of which is secured a bevel gear it that is driven by a bevel pinion 2t. lhe driving nut I8 is rotatably mounted upon the upper end of the rotatable sleeve is, preferably by means of a split ring 2i which enters a circular groove 22 on the exterior face of the nut and which is secured to said sleeve by means of screws 23. Surrounding the revoluble nut it and rigidly secured to the upper end of the rotatable sleeve M, as by means of the screws 23 which also secure the split ring 2! to said sleeve, is a worm gear it that is driven by the worm 25.

At its lower end the discharger 4 may advantageously be provided with a roller 26 for preventing the screen wall of the basket I from being injured by the tip of. the plow It! when material that is hard to discharge is being plowed from the basket. As the discharger turns to cause the plow tip to approach the screen wall of the basket the roller 26, which is preferably mounted on a bracket 27 rigidily secured to the lower end of the sleeve Id of the discharger, likewise approaches the screen. When the plow tip reaches the screen the roller assumes a position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. '7, in which it is on the center line of the basket and just clearing the basket rim. Normally the roller does not touch the rim of the basket unless the material which is being operated upon is hard to discharge, in which event the roller by engaging the rim of the basket prevents the basket i from being pulled inwardly by the plow It! as a result of its cutting action.

For arresting the downward movement of the discharger in case the limit switches provided for that purpose should fail, the shaft 9 may have mounted thereon an adjustable mechanical stop at which has threaded engagement with a plate member 28 rigidly secured to said shaft and projecting laterally therefrom. This stop member may be conveniently formed as a threaded bolt which is maintained in adjusted position by means of a nut 30. By cominginto contact with a cooperating stop member 31 mounted on the upper face of the worm gear 24, the stop 28 serves to limit the downward travel of the plow It with respect to the centrifugal basket I. The stop 3! is preferably made as a frame having the general form of an inverted U so as to straddle a portion of the bevel gear I9 and thus enable the stop member 28 to be positioned sufficiently close to the discharger shaft 9 to prevent too great leverage being communicated to the plate 29 by the adjustable stop 28.

A mechanical stop for arresting upward movement of the shaft 9 in the event the limit switches should fail is afforded by the lower end of sleeve It with which the plow ill is adapted to come into engagement. As in the case of the mechanical stop means for arresting downward movement of the discharger shaft 9, the mechanical stop means for arresting upward movement of the shaft only operates should the limit switches fail to function.

Power is applied to the discharger 4 by means of an electric motor 32 which drives the bevel pinion 20 and the worm 25 through the intermediacy of any suitable reducing gearing 33 (shown diagrammatically) and the respective solenoid operated clutches 34 and 35 which are controlled by suitable limit switches, the speed of rotation of the worm shaft 36 being considerably slower than that of the shaft 31 of the bevel pinion. The motor may be and preferably is a three phase 60 cycle 440 volt squirrel cage induction motor, 1750 P. is, and is usually required to be of only one-fourth H. P., but it will be understood that the size of the motor depends upon its application. For low grade sugar the motor reducing gearing 33 may advantageously deliver 7.48 R. P. M. to the worm shaft 36 and 170. R. P. M. to the pinion shaft 31. These speeds may, of course, be varied to suit any particular application. The bevel pinion 20 and the worm 25 are preferably driven by means of a single motor reducing gearing unit 33 rather than by individual motor reducers, for while no clutches would be needed if individual motor reducers are used solenoid brakes would be required to insure proper control of the bevel pinion and worm.

The parts just described comprise the mechanical structure of the motorized discharger which is the central feature of this invention and by virtue of which the discharging phase of the cycle of the centrifugal machine is made mechanical. The discharger is so designed that it may be operated by itself simply by closing a switch U, or automatically by the governor 5 when the machine is decelerated to a speed safe for cutting. Such speed may be any speed between 40 and 60 revolutions per minute, speeds below 40 revolutions per minute being too slow and speeds above sixty revolutions per minute being too fast for safe operation. When motor 32 is started, the members of clutch 35 (see Figure 28) engage and thereby rotate worm 25 and worm gear 24 which is mounted on the upper end of sleeve I4 to which the bronze bushing I2 is secured, the bushing having a keyway to accommodate shaft 9 with its thread section H. The plow I0 is mounted on the lower end of shaft 9 so that as the worm it rotates this assembly slowly rotates in a clockwise direction within the fixed housing 8. The tip of the plow thus approaches and enters the dried material in the basket I. When it reaches the basket wall, a strip the width of the plow it is, of course, removed. Inward movement of the plow is then stopped by the limit switches to be described which, upon being actuated, cause the members of clutch 35 to disengage. At the same time, clutch 34, to be hereinafter described, is energized causing the plow to move downwardly by rotating the pinion gear 20 which, in turn, drives bevel gear l9 to which is attached the interiorly threaded circular nut l8. This nut is so mounted on the top of sleeve 44 that it only engages the threaded section {H of shaft 9. Rotation of nut l8,'therefore, slowly lowers shaft 9 so that the plow 10 moves toward the bottom of the basket. Since the downward movement of shaft 8 is coordinated with the speed of rotation of the basket, the-charge therein is completely removed. When 'the'plow reaches its lowest position, the driving motor is reversed by mechanism hereinafter described and the plow moves away from the basket and "then r-is'es to its original starting position. The outward and upward movements of the plow may be made to occur simultaneously as hereinafter -explained.

An optional method of driving the discharger 4 is illustrated in Figure "12 of the drawings. In that case two motors 38 with their a propriate individual reducing "gearin'gs 39 are employed, one serving to drive the bevel pinion -20 'andth'e other driving the worm 25. In such a'ciinstruction, the clutches 34 and '35 are unnecessary, the motors themselves being started and stopped by small magnetic switches whose respective solenoids'take the place of the-solenoids which effect the operation of the clutches.

The centrifugal governor 5, which coordinates the operations of the basket I, the discharger 4 and the filling gate 1 04, may be conveniently driven from the shaft or spindle -2 of the basket by means of a belt 43 of V-fOrm incross section which passes around a pulley GI carried by said spindle and also around a pulley 42 secured to the main shaft 43 of the governor, the top speed of the shaft #13 advantageously being in the neighborhood of 4000 R. P. M.

"The vertically 'slidable governor member 2'4, which is connected to the main shaft 43 of the governor in-a well known manner by means of pivoted links 35 with their pivotally attached weights 4G, is formed as a hollow cylinder within which isa rod l-l that extends through the bore of the shaft 4'3 and thence upwardly through the casing fill containing oil for lubricating the governor, oil under pressure being conveniently supplied to the-casing through asuitable pipe 49 and passing therefrom through a pipe 50.

The verticallysliding member 44 by which the rod 5''. is supported has a sliding fit with the main-shaft 23, the lower portion 51 of said shaft being of hollow cyli'ndrical form to receive the sliding member 114 and being slotted to provide clearance for the link attaching lugs of the part 4 The main shaft 43 is preferably provided with ball bearings 52 which are mounted within the casing 43 upon a supporting member 53 which is attached to the casing and is provided with suitable oil ports or ducts. The rod 4'? is supported by the vertically sliding hollow member i i of the governor. It preferably rests upon aball 5e which is interposed between it and said member 25, said rod and said member being suitably cupped to receive the ball and thus maintain it in proper position. Upward movement of the rod 41 is limited by the upper end of the member i-i coming into contact with the downwardly facing interior shoulder of the main shaft ie of the governor, the upward movement or the rod preferably being thereby arrested when the speed of the centrifugal basket I is about 300 R. P. The lower end of the verti oa-lly sliding governor member 44 is always submerged in oil andis closed except for small holes 55 which are-drilled'at such an angle as to act as a centrifugal pump for supplying oil to the ball 54 and the rod '41.

Mounted upon the cover of the oll containing casing 48 is a housing '56 within which is a spring 51 which is seated upon the upper end of the vertically slidable rod 41, the spring housing 56 being slotted longitudinally to permit vertical movement of a switch actuating member or bar 58 which is movable with the rod 41 and preferably is screwed into the upper end of said rod and projects laterally therefrom through the housing 56. The spring housing may be conveniently screwed into the cover of the casing 48 and is preferably provided at its lower end with a bushing 59 having a sliding lit with the rod ll. At its upper end the spring housing 55 may be advantageously provided with an adjusting screw 60 whereby the pressure of the spring opposing upward movement of the rod 41 may be regulated.

The switches D, F, G, H and I which are controlled by the movement of the laterally extending bar 58 carried by the slidable rod 4! of the governor o are preferably mounted upon a frame 6i that is rigidly secured to the cover $2 for the pulley 42 oi the governor main shaft 43. These switches, which are conveniently arranged in two rows with three switches positioned at each side of the switch actuating bar 58, may be of any suitable form but preferably are of the well known type of snap action switch.

These switches are respectively actuated by members 63 which are mounted upon the frame 61 and are interposed between the bar 58 of the governor and the switches. They are mounted upon the frame GI with capability of lateral motion enabling them to actuate their respective switches and they may advantageously be formed from bronze rods of small diameter, each rod being threaded at its top for cooperating with a corresponding nut 64 loosely mounted in a slot or opening formed in the upper part of the frame 8:. Below its threaded portion each of the rods or bars is cut away so as to become of rectangular cross section and provide a tapered projection on the side thereof adjacent the governor bar 58 at the approximate point of travel of said bar at which the switch is to operate, the projections of the bars being respectively disposed at diilerent elevations. t the bottom, the members 63 are preferably of circular form and each is suitably slotted to receive a flat guide 66 rigidly secured to the frame 6!, the rod thus being prevented from turning while being capabio of moving toward its switch. The nuts '64 enable the bars 63 to be accurately adjusted vertically to their proper positions.

The laterally extending governor bar 58 is provided with four small rollers 61 which respectively operate switches D, F, G and H by engaging the projections 65 upon the rods 63 and shifting said rods laterally toward their corresponding switches, the rods being returned to normal position by the spring action of the switches. The governor bar 58 is also provided with two small pivoted levers or dogs 68 each of which swings in one direction only, one of said dogs serving to operate the switch momentarily as the governor bar 53 moves downwardly and the other acting to momentarily operate the switch I as the said governor bar moves upwardly.

The switch D is a single pole single throw switch, normally open. It is in parallel with the power side of a single polo double throw snap action switch L which supplies power to either the power or the brake circuit of the centrifugal. The circuits here referred to as the power and brake circuits are composed of switch L, switches F and D and solenoids I3I and I32. In considering the operation of these circuits, it must be borne in mind that the entire control of the machine with its various parts and interlocking circuits is not a part of the centrifugal machine itself as the purpose thereof is merely to take over the control of a centrifugal machine, including the charging and discharging. Thus, when it is said that power is applied to the machine, it is meant that an impulse is supplied by the control which will, when properly converted, cause the driving means to be applied. How these impulses are converted for operating a hydraulically driven centrifugal machine are only shown for purposes of illustration.

The single pole double throw switch L has one side normally closed. During the running cycle, the timer 6 holds this side open and the other or power applying side closed. Asthe center member of switch L is connected to one side of the supply line, this allows current to flow through solenoid I3I and return'to the other side of the supply line through the common connection of solenoids I3I and I32. Across this side of L is the switch D in the governor which likewise can close this circuit and cause power to be applied. The other side of switch L which is normally closed is held open by the timer during therunning cycle, at the end of which it is permitted to close and allow current to flow through switch F in the governor and solenoid I32. applies whatever means is used for braking. When a safe speed for discharging has been reached, the governor opens switch F, the brake is removed and the centrifugal coasts. At about this same time the governor momentarily closes switch E which starts the discharger. As the plow of the discharger enters the charge, the basket slows down and will come to a stop were it not for switch D which the governor closes, thereby by-passing the open side of switch L and causing power to be applied. Switch D might be termed a jogging switch as it is open at all speeds above discharging speed. When the centrifugal machine is in the at-rest position, as shown in the wiring diagram, Fig. 28, the switch D is closed. By its opening and closing in response to the movement of the rod 41 of the governor the speed of the basket I is maintained reasonably constant during the cutting operation of the plow IQ of the discharger. The switch E is a single pole single throw switch, normally open. It is operated by the laterally projecting bar 58 only when said bar is moving downwardly and the centrifugal basket I has decelerated until it has reached cutting speed. The switch F is a single pole single throw switch, normally closed. While the machine is braking, it is normally closed and it is opened by the downward movement of the switch actuating member 58 of the governor when the centrifugal basket I is decelerated to cutting speed. Opening it opens the brake circuit, releasing the brake for the centrifugal basket. In the wiring diagram, Fig. 28, the machine is at rest and therefore switch F is 0 en.

The switches G and H are single pole single throw snap action switches normally closed. They respectively prevent the operation of the discharger while the basket is running at higher o lower speed than proper discharging speed. The main control circuit of the discharger is completed through them and if either opens the discharger 4 will stop. The main control circuit of the discharger is the circuit through which current flows to the control circuit of the dis-' charger and its reversing switch. In Figure 28, the common side of the reversing switch solenoids 92 and 93 and the common side of the solenoids of clutches 34 and 35 comprise one side of the circuit. The other side of the circuit is completed through switches G and H in the governor or the test switch U. The switch G, which is simply a safety device, is opened by the governor at the top of its movement as the basket I picks: up speed and it holds it open until the machine again slows up for the discharger, or stated otherwise, during the drying cycle of the basket, thus eliminating all danger of the discharger 4 starting to operate while the centrifugal basket I is revolving at high speed, an action which otherwise could occur should there be a shorting of the switch E or of either of the switches C and P, whose nature and purpose will later appear, the said switches E, C and P being in parallel as shown in the wiring diagram. Switch H is set to open just under the cutting speed of the basket, which is any speed of the rotating basket at which it is safe for the plow to enter and remove the dried material, the speed normally ranging between 40 and 60 revolutions per minute. The switches G and H are governor operated and, as previously explained, both are in. the circuit supplying energy to the control circuit of the discharger. If either is open, the discharger will not operate. Switch H is opened by the governor below cutting speed to stop the progress of the discharger and allow the basket to pick up speed. This takes place a few revolutions below minimum cutting speed or at about 35 revolutions per minute. This is necessary since the equipment might be used on a centrifugal machine in which the torque delivered to the basket spindle at low speed might not be sufficient to prevent stalling, even with switch D closed and all available power of the driving means applied as previously described. When the basket regain its cutting speed, the governor bar 58 allows the switch H to close and the disch'arger to start. Switch G as explained elsewhere opens the circuit above cutting speed as a safety precaution to prevent the possibility of the discharger operating while the machine is at high speed.

The switch I is a single pole single throw snap action switch, normally open. It is momentarily closed by the governor when the basket I is at proper filling speed, thereby eifecting the open: ing of the gate I04 to admit a charge to the basket.

The rotary movements of the worm gear 24 by which the plow I0 is caused to approach and withdraw from the perforated rim of the centrifugal'basket I are controlled by switches B, C and C which are actuated by an upright finger member 59 rigidly secured to said worm gear. Mechanical stops for limiting the turning movements of the plow III in case the limit switches should fail are also preferably provided. For this purposethe worm gear may advantageously have secured to its upper face an arcuate member I0 formed with a stop lug II which projects outwardly beyond the worm gear and is adapted to arrest outward rotation of the plow by engaging the bearing support I2 of the bevel pinion shaft 31 and the discharger timer shaft I3. The mem-. ber I0 is also provided with an outwardly extending lug I4 with which an adjustable stop member I5 has threaded engagement, the member I5 preferably being formed as a bolt that is 'function of switch 1'1- held in adjusted position by a jam nut and being adapted to arrest the movement of the plow in.- wardly away from the rim of the basket I by coming into engagement with the shaft supporting member 12. The mechanical stops H and 15 do not function unless the limit switches fail.

The upright finger member 69 carried by the worm gear 24 extends upwardly through a curved segmental slot 16 formed in a. stationary plate 11, the slot being concentric with the worm gear and being of a. length corresponding to the movements of the worm gear. Mounted upon theplate 11, in position to be operated by the upright finger 69 as the worm gear approaches the end of its counter-clockwise motion in moving the plow it! towards the center of the basket I, are two switches C and C arranged one above another, C being uppermost, see Figures 22, 25 and 26. These switches are operated by the upright member 69 carried by the worm gear through the intervention of leaf springs or levers 18 which are mounted on the plate 11 in horizontal alinement with their respective switches, each of said leaf springs preferably being movable into engagement with a switch pin carried by the cooperating switch. As shown in Figures 3 and 25, the upright finger or switch controlling member 69 is formed at its upper end with an overhanging head. portion 19 which is'adapted to actuate member 18 for operating the switch C before the body of the finger member below said head portion operates the switch C through the leaf 18 cooperating therewith. It is a matter of importance that upon approaching the switches C and C the finger 69 should first ope-n C and then reverse C for if C were reversed before C was opened the movement of the upright finger member 69 toward C would be stopped and upward movement of the plow l would be started, leaving the switch C still closed. The result would be that the discharger 4 would fail to come to rest at the end of its cycle with the plow It at the top of its travel but would repeat its cycle of operation.

As previously explained and as shown in Figure 28, the main control circuit of the discharger receives power through switches G and H both of which must be closed before the discharger will operate. It will also be noted that with these switches closed, the discharger circuit is still open in the discharger itself when it is at rest. With the switches G and H closed, the circuit is complete to the common side of switches- C and P in the discharger and it is also complete to switch E in the governor. The governor at cutting speed closes switch E momentarily and current flows through switch A to the solenoid 93 of the discharger motor switch A closing that switch and starting motor 32, and through switch B to clutch 35. Part 59 then moves away from switch C permitting it to close. The circuit is then complete through switches E and C Since switch E is only momentarily closed, to start the operation it opens and switch C- is then relied upon to keep the circuit closed.

Switch C which is a single pole snap action switch is held open by the head portion 19 of finger 69 in the at rest position. When the discharger starts to operate, switch E is closed only until finger 69 moves away from switch C thereby permitting switch C to assume its normally closed position. As heretofore explained, the

E sets the discharger in motion when the centrifugal has decelerated to discharging speed. As shown in the wiring diagram,

this switch and the governor controlled switch E, as well as the switch P, are all in parallel and the closing of any one of them will start the discharger. In addition to the mechanical structure heretofore described, the discharger unit with its internal circuits consists of a driving motor 32 and switches A, A, P, C, C C C B and O and it is connected by a cable to a control panel (not shown) on which is preferably mounted the motor reversing switch A with its solenoids -92 and 93. and switches A and A The power circuit for the motor is 3 phase 440 volts- 60 cycle and is connected through reversing switch A to the motor 32 by means of the above mentioned cable.

As previously explained, one side of the circuit through which energy flows to operate the solenoids of the reversing switch A and the solenoids of clutches 34 and 35 is brought to the a common side of switches E, C and P which function in the following manner: The speed of the basket I having dropped to approximately revolutions per minute, the governor closes switch E momentarily. Current then flows through switch A to solenoid 93 closing the motor switch and through switch B energizing clutch 35. The member 68 moves away from switch C which closes and keeps the circuit energized. When 69 reaches switch 13, this switch is reversed braking the circuit to the clutch solenoid 35 and completing it to clutch solenoid 34. This starts the downward movement of the plow. At the end of the downward movement, the traveller 88 has moved sufficiently far along threaded member 13 to cause switch A to open and switch A to close. The circuit through' the switch solenoid 93 is broken and the circuit through solenoid 92 is then established, thus reversing the motor 32. Switch P is closed but it has no immediate effect since switch C is still closed. Switch C" is likewise closed and it is to be noted from Figure 28 that current can flow to clutch solenoid 35 through either switches B or C. At this point in the discharging cycle, current flows through switch A and switch C, the circuit through switches A and B having been broken by the reversing'of A As the plow moves away from the screen, member 69 again approaches switches C and C It first opens switch C and then reverses switch C thereby breaking the circuit to clutch 35 and establishing the circuits to clutch 34. At this point, the internal circuit of the discharger would be broken were it not that switch P was closed when the motor reversed. Switch P keeps the circuit established until the upward movement of the discharger is completed, at which time the traveller 88 returns to its starting position opening switches P, C and A and closing switch A. The switches are again in the at rest position shown in Figure 28. No current can flow in the discharger circuit since these three switches E, C and P are all open. It cannot again go through its cycle until switch E is again closed by the governor at the end of the next drying cycle. It will be noted that switch 0 plays no part in the operation. It is in series with switch C across the side of switch B which is open while member 69 is moving toward switches C' and C With C open, no current can flow to clutch 34 until member 69 reverses switch C. Thus clutch 35 is first energized, causing the plow to move away from the wall of the basket and subsequently clutch 34 is energized causing the plow to rise. However, if switches C is closed so that current will flow to both clutches 34 and 35 when G is closed by the traveller, the plow will move out and up at the same time. The switch P prevents the plow II! of the discharger from stopping after it has moved away from the screen and is ready to rise, for in this position of the plow the upright finger 69 mounted on the worm gear 24 has opened the switch C and the discharger circuit would thus be broken were it not that it is held closed by the switch P until the discharger plow I I] returns to its starting position, when the circuit is opened by the opening of switches P and A The switch is a single poledouble throw snap action switch. When through the operation of a standard magnetic reversing switch A the discharger motor 32 reverses it receives energy through the hold-in switch A of the reversing switch, applying the energy to the worm clutch 35. When the upright switch operating member 59 carried by the worm gear 24 reverses the switch 0 it applies energy to the pinion clutch 3t. In the rest position of the clischa-rger mechanism i, as shown in the wiring diagram, it is not energized since the switch A is then open. The solenoid coils of the reversing switch A which respectively correspond to the hold-in switches A and A are indicated at $22 and 93 in the wiring diagram.

Secured to the mounting plate II at the end of the curved slot III approached by the switch controlling finger member 69 when the worm gear 2 moves clockwise is a single pole double throw snap action switch B which, as in the case of the switches C and C, is operated by the finger member E59 through the intervention of a spring leaf member 78. In the position shown in the wiring diagram the circuit through E is closed to the solenoid opera-ted clutch 35 of the worm shaft 36. When the governor controlled switch E is momentarily closed the worm gear 24 moves the upright finger 69 away from the switch C allowing the later to close and thus holding this clutch circuit closed after switch E has opened.

Mounted upon an upwardly extending portion Bill of the plate II, as by means of bolts 8I, are four snap action switches A, A P and C whose operating pins or plungers project downwardly in position to be engaged and actuated by a tapered ridge or raised cam portion 82 formed on a plate 83 that is slidably mounted on the fixed plate II, the slidable plate 83 preferably being provided with aligned slots 54 which receive screws 85 having threaded engagement with said plate Ii. The plate 83 is formed with spaced brackets; which project laterally beyond said plate and upon the outer ends of which adjusting screws 8'5 are respectively mounted. In the wiring diagram corresponding to the rest pos1 tion of the apparatus, switch A is closed and switches A P and C are open.

Movement of the slide 83 with respect to the underlying mounting plate I! is efiected by means of a traveller 38 which is mounted upon the threaded timer shaft it of the discharger, the timer shaft being driven from the bevel pinion shaft 3? by means of a gear 39 mounted thereon which meshes with the gear 9!] carried by the said shaft it. These gears may advantageouslv have a. ratio of 1 to 3. As well shown in Figs. 22 and 27, the traveller 88 projects upwardly through a slot 9! in the mounting plate '51 so as to be capable of engaging the adjustable screws M to thereby shift the slide 83 back and forth in accordance with the direction of movement of the traveller. The timer shaft I3 may advan- '14 tageously have twenty threads per inch so as to limit the movement of the traveller to but slight- 1y more than three inches.

The switches A and A control the rotation of the dischargcr motor, A being of the normally open type, and A of the type that is normally closed. In the position shown on the wiring diagram, the normally open switch A is closed and the normally closed switch A is open. In this position the discharger 4 is in the rest position with the plowIIl at the top of the basket I. When the speed of the centrifugal basket has decreased to cutting speed, the momentary closing of the governor controlled switch E causes the up right switch operating finger I59 carried by the worm gear 26 to move clockwise until the switch C is reversed and C is afterwards closed, thereby completing the circuit through switch A. to switch solenoid 93 and through the switches A and B to the worm clutch 35. The discharger control circuit thus being held closed by the switch C the discharger 4 operates to turn the plow toward the screen of the basket I. When the finger menu ber 69 reaches switch 13 that switch is reversed, breaking the circuit of the worm clutch which releases, and closing the circuit of the pinion shaft clutch 3 1 through the switches A and B. The plow III of the discharge]? then starts to move downwardly. When the plow has reached the bottom of the centrifugal basket I, the traveller 83 driven by the discharger timer shaft l3 has moved far enough to reverse switches A, A and P, opening A and closing A and P, thereby de-energizing solenoid 93 and opening switch A energiZing solenoid 92 and closing switch A The motor driving the discharger 4 reverses. Current is now flowing to the solenoid 92 and through switch A to the center contact of the switch G. Since the upright finger 69 which is movable with the worm gear 24 now occupies a position at the extreme left of the slot It in the plate "I? through which it projects, the worm clutch side of the switch C is closed, thus enabling the clutch 35 to drive the worm E i and thereby rotating the worm gear 24 counterclockwise. This causes the plow It to move away from the screen and toward the center of the basket I. As this movement of the worm gear 24 continues, switch operating finger 69 approaches the switches C and C first opening C and then reversing C. In reversing C, the circuit to the worm clutch 35 is broken and the circuit of the pinion clutch 3:3 is closed. Thereupon the bevel pinion 26 rotates and the plow 1c rises.

The switch G which is mounted upon the plate Tl along with the switches A A and P so as to be operated by the reversing mechanism slide 83, may be omitted, if desired, in which case the hand switch C by which C is out in or out of the circuit will also be omitted. Providing the mechanism with the switches C and C makes it possible to combine, at will, the rotational movement of the plow II) away from the screen of the centrifugal basket I when the plow is at the bottom of its travel and the subsequent upward movement of the plow so that these movements of the plow, instead of being separately performed in response to the operation of the switches A, A and. P by the reversing slide 83, may be caused to occur simultaneously, thus reducing the time required for the plow to return to its original elevated position. When the hand switch C in the circuit of switch C is open, these movements of the plow II] are performed separately, as heretofore described. With the switch C closed, the

switch is closed by the slide 83 when the plow reaches the bottom of the basket I and the discharger motor is reversed, thereby energizing the clutch 34 and causing the bevel pinion E8 to rotate so as to effect upward travel of the plow It simultaneously with the rotation of the worm gear 24 in effecting withdrawal of the plow from the screen wall of the basket I. When operating on heavy or viscous material which may pile up in the bottorn'of the basket, it is preferred to perform these operations successively; when the material is dry and granular the two operations are preferably performed simultaneously.

In addition to controlling the operation of the switches A, A P and C the traveller 88 also serves to operate a normally open single pole single throw snap action switch 0 which is in parallel wi h switch M in the timer motor circuit, switch 0 being closed upon movement of the traveller to the right as the plow I0 rises, but be ing unaffected and remaining open when the traveller moves toward the left. This result is preferably accomplished by interposing between the traveller and the switch 0 a hinged lever 9d which upon being forced upwardly causes the switch to close; and by providing the traveller 88 at its upper end with a laterally projecting rod or shaft 95 carrying a pivoted dog 96 which is positioned beneath and is adapted to actuate the lever. The dog is free to rotate when the traveller 68 moves to the left but is held against rotation when the traveller moves to the right by its lower end coming into engagement with the stationary mounting plate TE; and said dog is weighted at its lower end so that whenever it is free to do so, it automatically assumes a position adapting it to actuate the switch operating lever 34.

The lever 06 is adjustable longitudinally with respect to the slotted plate 77 through which the traveller 88 projects to thereby permit the lever to operate with substantial exactness in the proper timed relation to the traveller on the timer shaft T3 of the discharger. For this purpose, the lever 95 may advantageously be hinged, as at 9?, to a plate member 98 having a slot which receives a headed screw 99 having threaded engagement with the stationary mounting plate TI, the member 98 thus being adapted to be clamped to the plate 11 so as to hold the lever in any adjusted position desired. The switch 0 is preferably mounted on the adjustable plate ll by providing said plate at one side with an upright bracket I 00 which extends behind the switch 0 and to which the switch is bolted. In this manner the proper operating position of the switch 0 with respect to the hinged lever 94 by which it is operated is maintained in any position of adjustment of the lever. I

At its free end the lever 94 is provided with a downwardly extending flange or-leg IOI which serves to limit the downward swinging movement of the lever by engaging the upper surface of the stationary mounting plate H; and between its ends said lever is formed with a depressed portion I02 with the under face of which the dog 96 00- operates to cause the lever 94 to be lifted, as heretofore explained. lhe depressed portion I02 is of a length just sufficient to hold the timer motor circuit closed until the timer itself closes the switch M controlled thereby. For the treatment of low grade sugar, a length of this depressed portion which results in holding the timer motor circuit closed for about twenty seconds will be found ample even when the timer disc which controls the switch M is turning as slowly as one revolution in fifty minutes. Where the machine is adapted to commercial or refined sugar the entire discharged cycle takes only about thirty seconds and accordingly the depressed portion IE2 would be of suitable length to close switch 0 only momentarily.

The mixer I03 from which the material to be operated upon is delivered to the centrifugal basket I may be of any usual or desired form. As illustrated in Fig. 21 it is of the well known type employing a gate I 04 controlling the admission of material to the basket, said gate being slidably mounted on the mixer and being operated by a double acting hydraulic cylinder I05 whose piston is connected to a pivoted lever I06 which is movably connected to the gate by the link I01. When water is admitted to the cylinder I05 through the pipe I08 the gate opens; when water is admitted through the pipe I09 the gate closes.

To obtain even filling of the centrifugal basket, its shaft 2 may be provided, as is common practice, with a distributor disc IIO which is spaced upwardly from the bottom of the basket and is conveniently formed in two sections clamped around the shaft. To avoid the possibility of the discharger shaft 9 eventually becoming gummed up and sticking because of material thrown against it from the distributor disc IIQ, it is preferred to encircle the shaft 2 with a generally cylindrical stationary shield I II through which the material coming from the mixer I03 passes to the upper surface of the disc. This shield is provided with a trough portion I I2 positioned so as to receive the material as it is discharged from the mixer I03. The lower end of the combined shield and filling member III is spaced upwardly from the distributor disc H0. a distance of about three inches being effective for the purpose in the machine shown, and the diameter of its lower end is preferably somewhat less than the diameter of the disc. Any suitable means may be employed for mounting the shield III upon the curb or casing 3 of the machine, as for example by means of screws which (see Fig. 21) pass through the trough portion II2 of the shield and have threaded engagement with the flange at the top of said curb.

The charging of material into the centrifugal basket I is controlled by the governor 5. When the machine starts and as the basket picks up speed the bar 50 of the governor rises and the switch H, which the governor holds open at all points below cutting speed, is allowed to close. As the speed of the centrifugal basket I continues to increase it reaches the predetermined filling speed and thereupon the governor bar 58 closes the switch I and current then flows through the switch K to energize the solenoid magnet II3 for applying the power to open the gate I04. The switch K which is mounted within a bracket or housing II i secured to the curb or casing 3, is a single pole double throw switch whose center contact is closed to the opening side of the gate circuit, that is to the coil of the solenoid magnet II3. It will be noted from Figure 28 that the center contact of switch K is connected through switch I in the governor to one side of the supply line. Across the two sides of this two-way switch are connected solenoids H3 and H5 whose common connection is the return to the other side of the supply line. In Figure 28, the basket is empty and the side of switch K leading to the gate opening solenoid H3 is closed. However, no current can flow 17- since switch I in the governor is open. At a speed of the basket suitable for charging, the governor momentarily closes switch I completing the circuit to solenoid H3 which applies power for opening the gate.

Since switch I is only closed momentarily, it is obvious that some means must be provided to keep the circuit closed to the center member of switch K after the opening of switch I, otherwise no current would be available for closing the gate. This is accomplished by the use of switch J which is mounted in such position that it is closed by the opening of the gate. As the charge builds up on the basket wall, the lever H8 is pushed outward until the cam I20 reverses the switch K, de-energizing the solenoid magnet I I3 and energizing the solenoid magnet H5, thus permitting the gate opening valve I H to close and opening the valve H6 to supply power for closing the gate I 04. The lever arm I I8 is preset to reverse switch K when the charge is approximately one inch from the basket rim. It may be adjusted by rotation of cam I20 on shaft H9. In the form of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration, the power for actuating the gate I 04 is high pressure water which is supplied to and released from the hydraulic cylinder through three-way valves H6 and H1 which are operated by their respective solenoid magnets H3 and H5 and respectively communicate with the pipes I08 and I09 of the hydraulic cylinder I05. But it is to be understood that whatever form of power is employed for operating the gate I04 the solenoid magnets H3 and H5 are the means of its application.

As the governor actuated switch I is closed for only a brief interval and opens before the operation of charging the basket is completed, it is necessary to provide means for keeping the gate opening circuit energized until the basket is fully charged. This is accomplished by a mercury switch J which is in parallel with the switch I and is so mounted upon the gate operating lever I06 adjacent the pivotal point thereof that it is open when the gate I04 is closed and closes immediately the gate starts to open. The gate opening circuit is thus held closed by the switch J after I has opened and until the filling operation is completed.

The reversal of the switch K to energize the solenoid H5 so as to eifect a closing of the gate tilt when the centrifugal basket I has been filled to the desired extent may be conveniently accomplished by means of a lever H8 which (see Figs. 16, 1'7 and 18) is rigidly mounted on the lower end of a rotatable shaft H9 to the upper end of which a cam I20 is firmly afiixed by means of a set screw or in other suitable manner. A spring I2i which is operatively interposed between the cam and the housing member H4 constantly tends to swing the pivoted lever H8 toward the screen wall of the basket I and to turn the cam I20 to a position in which the center contact of the switch K is closed to the solenoid H3 in the opening side of the gate circuit. As the charge, flowing from the gate through the shield I I I to the rotating distributor disc H builds upagainst the screen wall of the basket I, it pushes the lever H8 inwardly away from the basket wall, thereby rotating the shaft H and the cam I secured thereto. When the basket has been filled to the desired extent, the turning movement of the cam has proceeded suificiently farto operate the switch K, causing it to reverse, whereupon thegate I04 closes, as

be used) to charger 4 be in operation when failure, are preferably heretofore explained. As the gate reaches its fully closed position, the switch J carried by the gate operating lever I06 opens, thus de-energizing the gate operating circuit, and as the governor actuated switch I has already opened the filling operation will not repeat.

The shaft H9 upon the lower end of which the lever H8 is mounted extends through and is supported against lateral thrust by a bushing or tubular bearing sleeve I22 which projects downwardly from the bracket casing I I4 within which the switch K and the cam I20 are housed, the

upper end of said sleeve being rigidly secured to the lower wall of said casing by welding or in other convenient manner. This sleeve extends in spaced concentric relation downwardly into a cylindrical shell I23 which is closed at its lower end by being welded to the shaft H9 to thus constitute a reservoir for containing oil to lubricate said shaft and to protect the bearing sleeve I22 from foreign material.

To provide for the possibility of power failure of the motor driving the machine or group of machines, as the case may be, while the discharger 4 is operating or while the centrifugal basket I is being loaded, the apparatus is provided with means for instantly stopping either of said operations upon such power failure, said means preferably comprising a solenoid magnet I24 and mercoid switches R and '8 controlled thereby, the energy for the solenoid magnet being taken from the volt line before the control circuit switch V through switch Q, which may be any kind of a single pole single throw switch and which opens and closes with the circuit breaker supplying power to the machine or group of machines. The switch R is a double end mercury switch and, in the running position shown in the wiring diagram, the opening side of the gate circuit is made through it. The switch S is a single end mercury switch and is in the line supplying power to the discharger control circuit; When the circuit breaker is closed, power flows from the 110 volt line through the switch Q and through switch W (if the latter the solenoid I 24, which thus holds the switches R and S in their running positions. If the circuit breaker should open, consequently causing switch Q to open, the solenoid I 24 would be de-energized, thereby reversing switch R and opening switch S. Upon the reversal of switch R, the opening side of the gate opening circuit is broken and the closing side of the gate circuit is closed, thus energizing the solenoid H5 and causing the gate I04 to close. Should the disthe' opening of the circuit breaker causes switch S to open, the discharger will stop until power is restored.

Switch W is an ordinary light switch which opens the circuit to the solenoid magnet I2 5 when the particular machine with which said magnet is associated is shut down. Switch W, of which one is provided for each machine, is not essential, but is merely a convenience and hence may be omitted. The switches Q, R and S, all of which are solely concerned with automatically stopping the machine in the event of an accidental power employed since they oper" ate to eliminate all disastrous consequences attendant upon an emergency failure of power, but

they may be omitted, if desired, although at considerable risk.

the 'machi ne without filling the basket I and also for testi ng the discharger 4 while the basket is at rest. For the former of these purposes an ordinary'tumbler light switch T, which is normaly closed may advantageously be inserted in the circuit by which opening of :the filling gate I04 is effected. When the switch T is opened, the machine will go through its cycle without the basket I being charged with material from the mixer I02. To enable the discharger 4 to perform its operating cycle while the basket I is at rest, so that the positions of switches A, A and P may be correctly set or adjusted while the disoharger is in motion, an ordinary tumbler light switch U is preferably employed. This switch U is normally open but, as shown in the wiring diagram, its closing causes the discharger 4 to repeatedly perform its cycle until U is opened.

The timer 6 may be of any suitable form providing a variable speed shaft I25 capable "of being selectively caused to rotate at different predeterminedspecds. Instead of employing a low voltage synchronous clock motor and associated transformer and speed changing gearing suitable for this purpose, it is preferred to employ, as diagrammatically illustrated in the drawings, a program switch I26 for 110-115 volts of any well known form affording the desired range of speed of its shaft I25, such, for example, as a variable speed timer whose motor I2'I is di-rectlysupplied with 110 volt current from the power line. Where, as in the present instance, the machine is adapted for operating on low grade sugar, speeds of 5, 30, 40 and 50 minutes per revolution for the shaft I25 will usually be found satisfactory, the lowest speed being employed only when the machine is being tested. For commercial or refined sugar a timer speed varying from 2 M. P. R. to M. P. R. will usually be found satisfactory.

Mounted upon the timer shaft I are a pair of fiber discs or cams I29 which respectively control the operation of the switches L and M. For that purpose, each disc is provided on its periphery with a wedge-shaped notch or cam recess for receiving a corresponding projection with which the respective operating arms or levers I30 of the switches L and M are provided at their outer ends.

The switch L is a single pole double throw snap action switch through which power is supplied either to the solenoid I3I of the power circuit, to thereby drive the centrifugal basket I, or to the solenoid I32 of the brake circuit to thereby actuate the brakes by which the speed of rotation of the basket is reduced whenever required during the operation of the machine. In thew-lrlng diagram the switch L is shown in the position it occupies at the end of the cycle of operation of the machine and delivers power to the brake circuit through the governor controlled switch F, thus keeping the brake applied until the speed of the basket I has dropped to cutting speed, at which time the governor opens switch F to thereby break the circuit and release the brake. In the position it assumes when the projection upon its operating lever I30 is forced out of the notch in its operating disc I29 it energizes the power-circuit containing the solenoid I3I by which application of driving power to the basket I is controlled, this half of the switch L at such time being in parallel with the switch D, which is opened and closed by the governor as may be required during the operation of the machine in order to maintain a reasonably constant speed of the basket I during the cutting operation.

The switch M is;a single pole single th w p action switch, normally open, which is in series t th timer motor I21. In the wiring diagram, it isshown in the position itoccupies at the end of the cycle of the machine. During the running cycle it is held closed as the projection on the outer end of its switch operating lever I31! then is in contact with the circular portion of the periphery of the timer disc I29 by which the movement of said lever is controlled. Upon the completion of one revolution of this timer disc, the projection on the end of the lever moves into the notch on the periphery of the disc, whereupon the switch M opens and the timer motor stops.

The mechanism (not shown) by which power is applied to cause the basket I to rotate when the solenoid I3l of the power circuit is energized may be of any form commonly used or suitable for the purpose; and the braking mechanism (not shown) by which the brakes are applied to the basket when the solenoid I32 of the brake circuit is energized may likewise be of any usual or suitable form. In the apparatus chosen for the apurpose'of explaining my invention hydraulic means :are employed for driving the centrifugal basket -I and for applying the brakes to the basket and consequently the respective solenoids I31 and I32 form parts of solenoid valves which may be of any suitable type, such, for example, as mercoid solenoid valves. When the solenoid I3-I is energized, and if hydraulic power is employed, the valve controlled by said solenoid opens and supplies water to the usual hydraulic cylinder of the needle valve of the water motor, thereby bringing .the motor in operation and effecting the :rotation of the basket I. When the solenoid I82 is energized, and if hydraulic power is used to apply the brakes, "the valve controlled by this solenoid opens to supply water to the braking cylinder and thus apply the brakes. When the solenoid I 32 is de-energised and its valve closes the hydraulic cylinder is vented through a small leak-orf opening in the supply lme to the brake cylinder.

a It will be understood, of course, that whatever form of power be employed the solenoid I.3I themeans for causing it to drive the basket I, and that the solenoid I32 is the means of applyinv the brake. Ina machine driven by electric motor the solenoid I3I would be the solenoid of the magentic switch controlling the operation of the motor; ina fluid driven machine it would be the solenoid of a solenoid valve admitting oil to the coupling; in "a belt or gear driven machine the solenoid :I3- 'I would control the magnetic clutch if such is used, or would act 'as a pilot to induce action of the clutch operating mechanism thydraulic cylinder, thruster, etc.) of other forms of clutches which might be employed. Similarly, it is to be understood that the power for the brakes whose application is controlled by the solenoid I 32 may be water, electricity oil or'air, applied in the usual ways.

'Ihe machines obviously be employed in groups, provision therefor being indicated at I33 in the wiring diagram; and it is also obvious that if the individual timers 6 of the respective machines "are of low voltage current for operating them may be supplied from a single transformer.

The machine operates in the followin' man- ,ner. With the main power supply on, the switch W is closed and thereupon the switches R and S which actonly the emergency of power failure as heretofore explained, assume the positions 

